Get UP! Rise UP!

[John Helge]

Manistee County Democrats:

We had a great meeting last Thursday night!  We heard from eight different Democrats who are running for statewide and regional offices in this election year.  All of them had messages full of progressive ideas and actions that we can all get behind to bring to a halt the autocratic takeover of our federal and state governments by those we elected to represent all of us but are obviously beholden to ultra-rich donors and huge monopolistic corporations.  We will continue to bring opportunities for everyone in Manistee County to meet, speak with, and evaluate candidates who will fight for us all in Lansing and Washington. 

MARJDI is showing a great movie at 7pm on Monday, February 23^rd at the Vogue Theater in downtown Manistee. "The Great Debaters" is a 2007 historical drama directed by Denzel Washington, based on the true story of the Wiley College debate team in 1935 Texas, highlighting themes of racial equality and the power of words.

The Feeding America Food Truck will be at the Lakeshore Church parking lot at 10am on Wednesday, February 28th. We need helpers to dress warmly and come help us distribute groceries to food insecure families in Manistee County.  When we have a good crew, we get it all done before 12 noon.  Come and become a part of that good crew!  We should get done in time for you to warm up at the League of Women Voters event listed below!

The League of Women Voters Manistee County is hosting a presentation, “Know What You Sign,” from noon to 2 p.m. on Feb. 25 at the Manistee Library, located at 95 Maple St. in Manistee.  Pam Tompke, former Brown Township clerk will be hosting this informative session with a brief overview of all the petitions that have been approved by the Michigan Board of Canvassers.

On Saturday, February 28^th at 1pm in the West Shore Community College building on River Street in downtown Manistee, we will be holding a Local Democracy Forum.  We have assembled a panel of locally elected officials representing our County Board of Commissioners, City Council Members, School Board Members, and Township Trustees that will present their expectations on how elected state and federal officials can do  a better job helping them find answers to the challenges they face as local leaders.  We will have candidates for Michigan state senate and Michigan state house as well as representatives for US House of Representatives at the table to hear these expectations and respond with their action plans to help.  Members of the audience will also have the opportunity to submit questions to the candidates.  All are welcome.  Please reach out and invite a neighbor who may not always agree with your politics to hear what these candidates have to say.  

John M. Helge

johnm...@gmail.com

616-915-2403